There has been an interest by many companies and environmental groups in the past decade in developing a biodegradable plastic to be used for foodservice products. While on the surface this appears to be a solution to littering and other disposal issues, some researchers feel these products actually may pose environmental risks that outweigh any benefit.

According to a report commissioned by Australian Department of the Environment and Heritage, potential adverse effects include:

1.	Oxygen depletion in waterways due to the breakdown of starch-based plastics
2.	Ground and water pollution due to by-product degradation (additives and modifiers)
3.	Slow or partial degradation that could be harmful to marine life
4.	Unacceptably high organic or metal contamination derived from biodegradable residuals affecting soil and crop degradation when present in compost
5.	An increase in litter since quick breakdown and disappearance will be the expectation of the public
6.	A decline in existing plastics recycling programs

Also, according to the Environment and Plastics Industry Council (Canada) and the Biodegradable Products Institute (U.S.) , biodegradable plastics do not break down in landfill conditions.